Day 4, 7 February 2014

You may be wondering why I haven't had too much to say. Still getting used  to using a blogger app on the phone. Anyhow, along the coast at The Royal National Park.

Additional stuff added on 8 Feb 2014:

This is the lookout a group of us led by my friend Dan, stopped at some years ago. One of the group, Jarrod, decided that he wanted a photo of his bike as close to the edge as possible and rode it straight through a gap in the armco and parked it very close to the edge. Very freaky. Royal National Park is lovely has lots of short walks through it.

Today is Friday, so it must be day 4.

On my way to Royal Nathional Park.

Some more day 3 images

Security was not happy!

Today I had the chance to grab an iconic photo of the bike in front ofthe Sydney Opera House. At the same time as a Chinese rider on his BMW GS and a busload of camera-happy Chinese tourists. I'm sure you can imagine the result! Ah well, my 7 minutes of fame.

Another Day 3 picture

Where every self respecting motorcyclist must visit

Day 3, Thursday 6 February 2014

Morning tea and a place to study for a while.

Day 2, Wednesday 5 Feb 2014

Wet, wet, wet. But unlike previous trips I was far better prepared. So this day was basically a highway push through the rain and got as far as Taree. When I booked into a motel there, I was wishing to be in the USA, where standards and prices are very different.

A new February, a new trip. Tuesday 4 Feb 2014

Today I headed of on what has become an annual pilgrimage to the Adventure Travel Film Festival. This is the third running of the festival and if I arrive safely, it will be my third time there. I'm not confident I will make it in 2015, we will have to see how my university studies go.

This year I am doing a few things different. No laptop; I'm using my Samsung android phone and tablet to update the blog and keep in touch. That will save three kilograms of weight off the bike. I've also replaced the bike's battery with a more power Lithium battery which makes it crank better and gives another three kilogram weight saving. The cooking gear has been left at home as there are plenty of places to buy healthy food at decent prices and the tyre changing gear has been left behind as well.

One my first day I stopped overnight at Haydn and Diane's, a couple of motorcycle world travellers extraordinairres and very inspiring.  They will be the official photographers for the next Horizons Unlimited meeting in Beaudesert, Queensland in October 2014.

Here is the view from their front balcony.

Kenilworth - Maplton -25 Jan 2014

Today I caught up ith Mark, who teaches at the same school as my wife Karen. This is a good opportunity to note how small your world can be but first a bit about the ride. Unfortunately no pictures this time and no videos (thank goodnes I hear you say).

We set off from home at 9:00 am. Mark had arrived 10 minutes early and so none of that normal procrastination often associated with motorcycling, already a good sign. We headed out through Narangba, the back of Burpengary, Rocksberg and the Wamuran, Woodford, Maleny and Kenilworth. With light but constant rain, there was no temparature in the rosd surface or our tyres. Mark was on new tyres and I was on Mitas E07 dualsport tyres, so there wasn't anyreal chance to open up the throttles. This gave us more time to take in the smells, sights and sounds; this is one ofthe real benefitd of riding over driving, the more complete immersing in the environment as you travel. When going through a pine forest in Autumn you can almost taste the pine and the smell can stay on you for a day or so.

The final stage into Kenilworth was even more slow due to traffic andsowe pulled into the Bellbird Cafe. As usual, great coffee and it gave me a chance to day hello to Pete, the owner and leave some brochures on the next Horizons Unlimited meetings. From there Mark led the way via the Obi Obi road. A great track that comes out the back of the Mapleton pub. Lunch was served. I ordered a small garden salad and potato wedges. I have no idea what a large serving would be because I ended up giving away my wedges to a group of dirt bike riders also stopped in for lunch.

After a fine lunch and chat, we headed home via Montville, Maleny, Landsborough, Beerwah, Glasshouse, Beerburrum, Elimbah and Caboolture. Here Mark headed back to Brisbane and me back home. An excellent ride. The light rain kept things cool and breezy, the roads were not too busy and the views along the ranges as fantastic as ever, especially along the Obi Obi Road which was new to me.

Now about that small world business. As I said, Mark teaches at the same school as Karen. The same school that I went to as a child. Mark also went to the same high school as me, he was a few years behind me. Mark also had the same unusual surname as one of my cousin's husband although we haven't found a close family tie there. Nonetheless, as Mark once commented, if you are from Toowoomba, you will be related!